FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (December 17, 2019) – For the second straight day, junior placekicker
Luis Aguilar and senior quarterback
Case Cookus garnered All-American honors with the pair being named to The Associated Press FCS All-America First Team on Tuesday. The two Lumberjacks were previously named to the HERO Sports FCS All-America Team.
Aguilar converted 22-of-25 field goal attempts and ranks third nationally in the FCS with an 88.8 field goal percentage. His 1.83 field goals made per game also ranks third and he leads the Big Sky Conference in both categories. Aguilar also owns the FCS' longest field goal in 2019 with a 57-yarder versus Northern Colorado on Oct. 5.
Aguilar was perfect on extra point attempts, going 52-for-52, and he led the country with 61 kickoffs that resulted in touchbacks. He ranked second amongst kickers and ninth overall national in scoring with 9.8 points per game.
Cookus was earned All-American honors from The Associated Press for the second time in his career. In 2015, he was a Third Team selection. The gunslinger helped NAU lead the country in passing offense this season, and led the nation in both passing yards (4,114) and passing yards per game (342.8). Cookus was also eighth with 31 touchdown passes and ninth with 24.17 completions per game.
Cookus, one of four finalists for the Walter Payton Award finalist completed 290-of-481 passes and broke the program records for career passing yards (12,082), passing touchdowns (105) and total offense (12,314) this season. He threw for 300 or more yards in nine of 12 games and had a pair of 400-yard performances, while ranking 14th in the FCS in passing efficiency (150.5).
2019 NAU Football All-American/Postseason Honors
Luis Aguilar, Placekicker: Fred Mitchell Award recipient, HERO Sports All-America (First Team), The Associated Press All-America (First Team)
DJ Arnson, Punter: HERO Sports All-America (Third Team)
Case Cookus, Quarterback: HERO Sports All-America (Second Team), The Associated Press (First Team)
Hendrix Johnson, Wide Receiver: HERO Sports Freshman All-America (Honorable Mention)
Brandon Porter, Wide Receiver: HERO Sports Sophomore All-America (First Team)
